Crate and box



J. A. WALLE .CRATE AND BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1921.

1 %6,66 Patented. Nov. 211,, 1922.

\ 35 W Mm,

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

L'ZJJTEIZNT JOHN AUGUST EVALLER, OF EIGHT/V001), ILLINOIS.

CRATE AND BOX.

Application filed May 20, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it l znown that I, Join? A. t V ALLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highwood, Cook County, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in @rates and Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to crates, boxes and cases, and its object is to provide a sub stantially ready made box, crate or case, including band-binding, in knock down form, so that it may be transported and stored within the compact space of ordinary lumber. Other objects of the invention are to reduce the cost of material and labor, to obtain a uniform and reliable construction, to provide a shipping case that may be made rapidly and in large quantities with the aid of machinery methods not heretofore available, and to provide a knock-down packing or shipping case construction equally as well adapted for expanded board or strips as for ordinary unexpanded board.

lVith these objects in view my invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing Figure l is an edge view of the four sides of a box or crate in flat or knock-down condition together with one of the two identical ends in position to be engaged by said sides, the dotted lines showing the sides set up to form the box or crate.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 with the end or ends omitted.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 5, parts being broken away- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the finished box, crate or case.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4 and broken away.

Figure 6 illustrates the adaptation of my invention to crate strips or expanded board instead of lain board.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the ends of the metal bands, broken away, and provided with an eye and tongue joint.

Figure 8 is an edge view of the parts shown in Figure 7 clinched together.

In the several views 2, 3, 4: and 5 represent four pairs of frame-pieces which serve Serial No. 171,203.

as supports for the hereinafter referred to flexible sides 6, 'Z, 8 and 9. The latter are made of comparatively thin material, or veneer, shown in Figures 1, 2, 1 and 5, or of the strips of expanded board, or of independent strips, as in Figure 6 where the substitute for, or equivalent of, boards is labeled 10. The ends of the box, crate or case are indi ated by numerals 11 and 12 and are preferably plain, thin boards the edges of which are engaged by grooves 13 in the inner edges of the frame-pieces 2 to 5, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 1 and 5. In Figures 1, 2, a and 5 the four sides 6 to 9 are shown as in one piece in one side of which is made a series of cuts or depressions 14, 15, 16 and 17 which run parallel to each other and diagonally or slantingly with reference to the edges of the board along the lines where the board is bent to form the corners of the box. The angularity of their slant may be varied from that shown in Figure 2 according to requirements varying thicknesses and quality of the material, etc., for the purpose of obtaining the desired flexibility at the bends- The sides 6 to 9 may be secured to the frame-pieces 2 to 5 in any ordinary or suitable manner, as by screws, nails or other well known means, but as the present invention includes band or wire binding curved bands 18 and 19 are laid across the ends of the sides 6 to 9 with their concave sides facing said sides 6 to 9 and to cause their edges18to be partly driven into the wood as indicated at 18 in Figure 5 when fastened by staples 20 that are driven through the sides 6 to 9 and into the frame pieces 2 to 5. In Figure 6 the band-binding is bent into wave-like form and distinguished from the straight form by the numeral 20 in said Figure 6 the staples 20 are caused to depress the band or wire 20 between the strips 10 and to partly out the edges 18 of the band 18 into the strips thereby holding said strips against both longitudinal and lateral movement, the indentations into the strips preventing longitudinal movement thereof while the inward curves between the strips serve as spacers between the strips.

As shown in. Figures 1, 2, 1 and 5 the side portion 9 has an extension 21 with the corners beveled off as at 22 to provide clearance for the bands 18 and 19, which are shown in Figures 1 and 2 as extending beyond the ends of the series of sides, when. the projecting portions are bent over the corner of the box where the numeral 21 is placed in Figure 1. This is to merely prevent undue thickness at said overlapping point. The extension 21 is, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, bent over and caused to overlap the free edge of the side 6, and with the aid of a pair of holes 28 in the flap 21 and holes 2% in the side 6 which register with the holes 23, as shown in Figure 5, said overlap or flap is locked or tied to the side 6 by passing any suitable wire or cord (not shown) through the holes 23 and 24 in the form of a. loop and tying it. But the overlapping port-ion 21 maybe secured to the side 6 in any other suitable and convenient manner, and, if desired, it may be entirely omitted and the edges of the side 6 and the side 9 minus the overlap, secured directly to each other.

While the ends of the frame pieces 2 to 5 are shown mitred or beveled, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and i, and indicated at 25, other forms ofjoint are available, and where the material from which the sides 6 to 9 are made is of substantial thickness allowance must be made for the tendency to stretch the sides when bending them over the corners by spacing the ends of the frame-pieces 2 to 5 apart to the extent oi the thickness of said sides.

Regarding the side 6 as the top or cover to remain open and uniastened until the box or case is filled, provision is made for holding the remaining sides to the frame-pieces 1 ,aeepee 2 to 5. A convenient means to this end is the provision of a pair of thin strips 26 and 27 that are fastened by screws or otherwise to the ends 11 and 12 and provided with bentends, hooks or barbs 29 which when forced into the grooves 13 bite into the sides of said grooves, as indicated most plainly in Figure 3, and thus temporarily support the sides '7 and 9in place it not otherwise provided with temporary supporting means during the filling ot the case or box.

The ends of the band-binding 18 and 19 shown projecting in Figures 1 and 2 are bent over the corner labeled 30 in Figure 4 and may be secured by a staple, or by other suitable means, such as, for instance by forming one end wit-h atongue 31 as in Figures 7 and 8 and the other end with a slot 32 to be engaged with said tongue and. bent over or clinched as in Figure 8.

I claim as my inventiona The coniibination'with. a pair of box or casing ends, of a member adapted to be bent over the edges of said ends to form the sides, bottom and top of a box or casing, said ends and member formed with parts that engage each otherto prevent relative movement, catches on the sides of said member that are engageable with catches on ends, and means for securing the top portion of said member to one of said sides. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN AUGUST WALLER. 

